Geoff Capes, British shot put champion and two-time World’s Strongest Man, dies aged 75
The British sporting icon, who served as a Cambridgeshire police officer and dominated shot put and strongman competitions, leaves behind a legacy in athletics, strength sports, and animal care
Geoff Capes, a towering figure in British athletics and strength sports, has passed away at the age of 75.
A national shot put record holder and two-time winner of the World’s Strongest Man competition, Capes leaves a lasting legacy in both fields of sport.
His family confirmed the news, stating, "The family of Geoffrey Capes would like to announce his sad passing today, 23rd October. Britain’s finest shot putter and twice world’s strongest man."
Born in 1949 in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, Capes later worked as a police officer for the Cambridgeshire Constabulary, where he served for a decade while continuing to train and compete at the highest level. His athletic prowess saw him become a seven-time winner of the Amateur Athletics Association (AAA) championships and a three-time UK national champion.
Capes set the British record for shot put with a throw of 21.68 metres in 1980, a mark that stood unbroken for over 20 years.
During his athletic career, he represented Great Britain in three Olympic Games and achieved his best result with a fifth-place finish at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
He was also a dominant force at the Commonwealth Games, where he secured two gold medals, and at the European Indoor Championships, where he earned two more titles.
Capes transitioned to professional strongman competitions after his final Olympic appearance in 1980. He quickly made his mark by winning Europe’s Strongest Man in 1980 and claiming the World’s Strongest Man title twice, in 1983 and 1985.
His performances in these contests, particularly his rivalry with Icelandic strongman Jón Páll Sigmarsson, cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s greats.
He also achieved considerable success in the Highland Games, winning six world titles and setting multiple records in heavy events such as the 56 lb weight toss.
Beyond his sporting career, Capes was widely known for his passion for breeding budgerigars. In 2008, he was appointed president of the British Budgerigar Society, a role that reflected his lifelong interest in the natural world and animal care. He frequently appeared in publications related to aviculture and remained an influential figure in the hobby.
Throughout his career and after retirement, Capes was involved in coaching and mentoring young athletes, helping to nurture the next generation of British talent. He remained a fixture in the strength sports community, working as a referee and event organiser.
Geoff Capes is survived by his children, including his daughter Emma, who followed in his footsteps as a shot putter, and his son Lewis, who played American football for the London Monarchs. He lived in Stoke Rochford, near Grantham, and continued to contribute to sport and community initiatives well into his later years.